Chapter books are an essential part of home-schooling in our house. I choose a read aloud based upon my children’s interests, the inclusion of dreamy illustrations or sometimes just because a particular book is nostalgic for me and I want to share that same magic with my kids!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.
The importance of reading aloud to children:
An avid reader is years in the making. A life long love of books begins in early childhood, snuggled up on a parent’s lap, listening to whimsical stories of far off lands or magical creatures. Plus, there is good evidence showing many benefits of reading aloud to young children too.
- Superior vocabulary – Children who are read to often tend to have far superior vocabulary compared with peers who aren’t read aloud to.
- Bonding and enjoyment – Reading makes for a great bonding experience and helps model to children the practice of reading for enjoyment!
- Increased attention span – You can also enjoy the benefits of your child’s increased attention span and improved listening skills too.
- Better Imagination – Stories help develop imagination, this creativity may cross over into play keeping children engaged for longer (and allowing you a well deserved break)!
A shelf full of inspiring, magical, adventure chapter books can be game-changing for a child’s relationship with reading, one that can impact the rest of their life.
How to keep younger children engaged during a read aloud:
When reading together as a family, it can be hard to keep everyone engaged, especially if you have a mixture of ages. Below are some tips and ideas for keeping a little ones attention.
- Keep hands busy – Younger children tend to be more fidgety and can benefit from simply having something quiet to hold or do. Great options include colouring or play dough.
- Read during snack time – Your children are already sat down, quietly eating, it’s the perfect time to read a chapter or two without outside distractions.
- Work in short bursts – With very young children, you’ll be at the mercy of a much shorter attention span. This doesn’t mean chapter books are a no go, it simply means you’ll have to be ok with reading just a few pages at a time. Little and often is key.
- Pick books based on their interests – Do you have a little fairy-lover or a dino-obsessed tot? Choose read alouds based on characters or story lines they are interested in.
In fact, i’ve found younger children tend to respond well to books with an animal as the main character. Or if there is a film version available, enjoy a movie night with the whole family once you’ve completed the book.
Enough waffle – Lets get to the read aloud recommendations:
Below I’ve compiled a book list of 20 enchanting read aloud options that you can be sure the whole family will love.
The Enchanted Wood – Enid Blyton
First off, we have the Enchanted wood. Enid Blyton’s works are so nostalgic, I vividly remember reading this as a child and being whisked away into an alternate world. This magical story follows 3 siblings as they adventure to the faraway tree, meeting many unlikely and eccentric new friends along the way. A favourite of my daughters.
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
Mary’s life is turned upside down after the loss of both her parent’s. She is uprooted from her home in India and brought to England to live with a rich uncle. With nothing and no-one to play with, her curiosity gets the better of her and she finds herself unlocking the mysteries of a secret garden, left untouched for years!
Orphaned, Heidi is sent to live in solitude on the mountain top with her (grumpy) elderly grandfather. Against all expectations, Heidi thrives in her new environment, befriending a shepherd boy, Peter and living a simple life. Suddenly, she is whisked away to the city, read on to find out if she ever finds her way back home?
The Jungle Book – Rudyard Kipling
Although I’m sure this one needs no real introduction. Meet Mowgli, a human raised by animals in the jungle, and his friends as they survive the challenges of the wilderness and battle the infamous tiger – Shere Khan. Until one day, he finds himself face to face with his own kind again and his life is changed forever.
Another classic, endearing story of a young girl with an incredible gift. Cast aside by her family, this story follows the trials Matilda faces and the friendships she makes in building a better life for herself. Overall, this is a magical story, sure to make both you and your children laugh.
A girl finds herself trapped on a tiny island as a result of her father’s new job. Keen to explore, she develops an incredible friendship with a polar bear. Follow their journey as their friendship ends up being their saving grace. We adored this book and have read it multiple times!
A much loved classic. This nostalgic novel sees a doctor turned vet learning to speak to animals. A skill that winds up sending him on a crazy adventure!
Stuart is a mouse born to a family of humans! Despite his size, this heroic mouse has the best intentions, follow his story as he braves a series of exciting missions.
A robot’s adventure whilst stranded on an island with no idea how they got there. Follow Roz on a heart warming journey as she befriends animals and helps them battle the elements in a bid to survive (and even thrive) in the wilderness. Overall, a great read, this one is requested often in our house.
A family of miniature humans, hidden inside an ordinary house, must NEVER be seen by the people who live there. Their adventurous but well meaning daughter is often ending up in trouble, but she might end up being the only one who can help save them!
In a nutshell, Pax the fox was saved by Peter when he was just a pup. Separated, we follow their emotional journey to be reunited as they prove that their unlikely friendship can survive anything, even war. This is our current read aloud.
Heartwood Hotel – Kallie George
This cosy chapter book is perfect for a variety of ages with occasional illustrations to help you visualise the story. We follow the adventures of a tiny mouse and the friends she meets along the way. A storyline of friendship, bravery, good morals and a happy ending. The perfect heart warming read aloud. Each book in the series is set in a new season, so it makes a perfect series to read all year. We thoroughly enjoyed all 4!
The Velveteen Rabbit – Margery Williams
A whimsical story of a well loved toy rabbit, loved so much he finally becomes real! Children often have a favourite teddy so this story is perfect for encouraging their imaginations.
The Little House in the Big Woods – Laura Ingalls Wilder
The first in the Little House series, this true story follows a young girl and her family, surviving in a little log cabin in the middle of nowhere. Learn about how they make, bake and hunt everything from scratch, their old fashioned traditions and the ups and downs the family faced leading a simple life. Despite it’s size, this book kept my daughter engaged even at age 2 and to this day she still talks about it. We’ve read it 3 times over!
Technically a picture book, but with rather a lot of words I thought it would also work well in the ‘chapter book’ category. The illustrations are works of art and this moving story is sure to capture the hearts of anyone who hears it. Similarly to Pax, this story is set during war time. A boy and his beloved horse are separated, only to be reunited in the most unlikely of ways.
5 Children and It – Edith Nesbitt
5 Siblings unexpectedly find themselves face to face with a sand fairy! Better yet, it grants wishes! But like they always say ‘be careful what you wish for’, join the children and it as they navigate the mayhem caused by their poorly thought out wishes.
My Father’s Dragon – Ruth Stiles Gannett
A little boy sets off on a mammoth adventure to free a dragon! See him face many challenge and battles in his bid to succeed at his quest.
A children’s classic, this marmalade obsessed bear has captured the nations hearts, follow along his adventure as he gets up to mischief and causes chaos with his human family, the Browns.
The Magic Treehouse – Mary Pope Osborne
Brother and sister (Jack and Annie) find a magical treehouse and are whisked away to a range of real events in history and real places around the world. Prepare to be transported to the pyramids in ancient Egypt or take a trek through the wild Amazon Jungle. The Magic Treehouse makes a great addition to bring a themed unit to life or simply just for fun, we have several of this series!
Finally, a gentle, cosy series, ideal for sensitive children. Sophie is a kindly mouse, she and her woodland friends encounter moral dilemmas and challenges but always end up learning an important lesson. We own several in this series and they are always a hit!
I hope I’ve managed to introduce you to a few new gems! If you’re not already incorporating read alouds into your home-school, you’re missing a trick!